Posted
by Gary Ellenbolt on

Kris Kaczor/Kickstarter

A documentary filmmaker is planning a story on the life of South Dakota girls’ basketball legend, SuAnne Big Crow. She was one of the most dominant players in state history, who died in a crash on the way to an awards banquet. The filmmaker, Kris Kaczor, says he’s impressed with what Big Crow means to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

“SuAnne, basically, is a representation of hope to the reservation and to young females around the world. And we feel that this story, given the political climate of everything could be helpful to society, and that we can have individual people making real change and positive change.”

In addition to looking at Big Crow’s life and accomplishments, Kaczor is putting together an ambitious filming schedule over the next several months.

“This is a feature documentary about SuAnne and her family, and how the modern reservation remember her and is guided by her. But—we’re also following her team, the Pine Ridge Lady Thorpes, for the 2018-2019 season—and basically drawing a modern connect, to the effect of SuAnne Big Crow on the modern-day Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.”

The Lady Thorpes are coached by SuAnne Big Crow’s cousin, Laura Big Crow. Kaczor hopes to have the film completed by late next year.

More information on the film can be found on its Kickstarter page here.